Jetsettersblog

A guide to some of Latin America’s most authentic hotels, which offer luxury and relaxation whilst capturing the spirit of the continent

Finisterris Lodge Relax, Ushuaia, Argentina (http://www.finisterris.com/ ) Opened July 2006 in the Patagonian mountains outside the city of Ushuaia. Finisterris provides self-catering accommodation in lodges that are entirely made out of local woods, clays and stone. Each lodge is spacious (125m²) with beautiful natural interiors and a private Jacuzzi and sauna.

Finisterris is set in forty-five acres of private land, twenty-five of which are virgin forests. The lodge has stunning views of the surrounding mountain scenery and is open throughout the year. A perfect resort for lovers of the great outdoors, Finisterris provides guests with trekking, riding and skiing on the doorstop.

Finisterris Lodge Relax (+54 2901 1561 6125/2121 email: info@finisterris.com ). Prices range from £134 to £160 per-person, per-night on a double basis and include breakfast and transfer from and to the airport and maid service. Extra services available include the use of a private chef and babysitting.

Quincho Country Home, Puerto Varas, Lake District, Chile (http://www.quinchocountryhome.cl/ ). Opened 7 August 2006, this large Country house is comprised of four luxury double rooms, for a maximum of eight guests. The property is surrounded by four hectares of gardens and woodland, offering privacy and seclusion.

Quincho Country Home is situated in the south of Chile’s beautiful Lake District and on the edge of wild Patagonia. It also lies near the road that leads to the country’s oldest National Park, Vicente Perez Rosales. The property has impressive views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes and Lake Llanquihue and there is a great range of activities for guests to sample, including horseback riding, rafting, sea-kayaking and trips to surrounding lakes and volcanoes.

Quincho Country Home (+56-65-330-737). Prices for a double room per-person range from £530 for 2 nights to £1140 for 4 nights. Price includes full board, house wine, beer and daily exploration

Casa Andina Private Collection, Cusco, Peru (http://www.casa-andina.com/ ) Opening August 2006, Casa Andina Private Collection Cusco is situated in the small square of Limacpampa at the heart of the old port of Cusco City.

The 72-room hotel is a restored 16th century colonial house, providing an interesting historic contrast to the Inca walled city of Cusco and nearby Machu Pichu. The hotel has a bar and restaurant serving traditional local cuisine.

Casa Andina Private Collection (0808 234 8682, email sales@casa-andina.com ) Prices range from £59 to £95 per night which includes an 8% service charge and a breakfast buffet.

My BA Hotel, Buenos Aires, Argentina , (http://www.mybahotel.com/ ) opens in August 2006 with just nine rooms, a restaurant and bar, a pilates studio, spa and health club. The hotel is set in a beautifully refurbished 1940s converted house in the stylish neighbourhood of Belgrano (adjacent to Palmero) in Buenos Aires.

On the first floor, My BA Hotel plans to hold regular art exhibitions, regional wine tastings, tango classes, book and cinema presentations with a view to promote an understanding of Argentine culture.

My BA Hotel (+5411-4787-5766; email info@mybahotel.com ) Prices start from £75 per-person, per night

Valle Perdido Wine Resort, San Patricio del Chañar, Neuquén, Argentina (http://www.newage-hotels.com/ ) is the ideal destination for those who wish to combine a passion for wine with adventure. Valle Perdido Wine Resort, which is set to open in July 2007, lies at the heart of the Argentine Patagonia wine region, a 45-minute drive from the city of Neuquén.

The hotel is set amongst a working vineyard and surrounded by vineyards and dramatic scenery. It includes a deluxe Spa, business centre, Restaurant and Wine and Tapas Bar with fine cuisine and extensive wine list.

For wine-lovers, there is the opportunity to participate in winemaking activities, wine tastings and tours conducted by the hotel’s sommelier. The area also offers many more outdoor activities including trekking, horseback riding, fly fishing, water sports and lake cruises.

Valle Perdido Wine Resort (+54 11 4005 0050, email info@valleperdido.com.ar )

Fairmont Mayakoba, Cancun – Playa del Carmen, Mexico (www.fairmont.com/mayakoba ) This new chic hotel on the breathtaking Mayan Riviera opened in May 2006. The 401-room hotel is situated 42 miles south of Cancun, near the town of Playa del Carmen. The Riviera is home to stunning, isolated beaches, lush forest and with excellent opportunities for diving, remains an unspoilt paradise.

The eco-friendly site is comprised of low-rise buildings connected by a series of deep lagoons by which guests can move about the site on complimentary canal service. The hotel boasts 8 tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, five swimming pools, a large Spa, and has three excellent restaurants and seven bars.

Fairmont Mayakoba (+52 (984) 206 30 00, email mayakoba@fairmont.com ) Prices for a standard room start at £105 per person, per night

Rosewood Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico (www.mayakoba.com/reosewood.html ) Opening in 2007, this modern and understated hotel will comprise one hundred and twenty suites and thirty-eight villas. Another eco-friendly resort, the site will be connected by a series of deep lagoons and complimentary canal service.

Set amongst jungle, lagoons and stunning beaches, the resort will also boast a world-class spa and Greg Norman championship golf course.

Rosewood Mayakoba (+1 416 351 0777, email info@mayakoba.com )

All the listed hotels are represented by LATA members and more information can be found in the LATA brochure and by visiting www.lata.org

For further information about Latin America and how to get there visit http://www.lata.org/

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